Wire bundling mechanism



Sept. 2, 1952 N. H. NYE

WIRE BUNDLING MECHANISM Filed Jan. 7, 1948 M 2 J 0y. E mm T M M; w M a m W Patented Sept. 2, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFI6E WIRE BUNDLING MECHANISM Norman H. Nye, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, assignor .to The Vaughn Machinery Company, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application January 7, 1948 Serial No. 851 vs Claims. (01. 242-,78)

The present invention, while relating generally as indicated to. a wirebundling mechanism, is more. especially concerned with certain improvements by which automatic control ofsuch mechanism is achieved.

Wire bundling mechanism as known in the wire drawing art usually comprisefi avertically disposed rotary draw block havingthe primary function of drawing .wire through a die adjacent thereto and the secondary function of forming the'drawn wire into a coiledbundle thereabout,

said blockbeing provided with vertical extension pins or the, like for guiding, the upward growth of the bundle. vWithout more, the operationof such a mechanism entails a certain amount of danger to.the-operator in the eventthat the :bundle formed thereby isallowedto growto an extent such that .the ring generally employed -.about said. pins andengaged with the top of the ,-growing bundle is lifted above the upper ends of isaid pinsandthrown off. In addition, overflow of the bundle abovesaid pins may cause snarling for tangling of the wire, thusnecessitatingshutztingdown ofthe mechanism with a consequent loss of. production and entailing added expense :for;loss of the, tangled material or for labor expended to untangle the same.

a safeguard against the aforesaid occur- .rences. it is known .to employ mechanical devices Jon the draw bench in the form of lever assemb1ages, or. the like engaged by said ring and operative upon being raisedto a predetermined height .by the upward growing of the bundleto .actuate a switch controlling the block driving .motorand thus interrupt operation of said block. :However, after such device has so operated, the

same must be movedto a position clearing the block so that the completed bundle may be lifted over 'the ,block extension pins and thereafter .must be re-positioned over the blockto re-rinitiate operationof theblook and to engage the next succeeding bundle to be formed thereby.

. wAccordingly, it is one primary object of this inventionto provide an automatically controlled wire bundling mechanism which does not require .the aforesaid manipulations by the operator rthereof.

,Anotherobject is to provide a wire bundling meohanism;so formed'that there are not meends of said pins 9,,thereby' involvingthed'angers the features hereinafter fully described andparticularly pointed out in theclaims, the following description and the annexed drawing setting forth in detail certain illustrative embodimentsof the invention, thesebeing indicative," however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principle of the invention maybe employed.

I In said annexed drawing:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

f g. 2 is a top plan view of the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 1';

Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross section substantially alongline 3-3, Fig. 1; l j

Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross section viewtaken substantially along line 4 6, Fig. 1'; and Fig.5 is a schematic wiring diagram of a typical control circuit for the motor which "drives n w ta en the draw block.

Referring now to the drawing and first more especially to Figs. 1 and2, there is shown therein a portion of a draw bench l on which .is mounted for rotation about its vertical axis a drawblo'ck 2 of conventional construction, said block being rotated as by any .suitable'eleotric motor and gear unit 3 having a spindle 4 keyed to. said block. Said block preferably comprises taperedflange and frusto-conical portions 5 and Bfljoined'ftogether by a fillet portion '1, all of .suchportion's being smoothly finished so that wine wrapped thereabout for drawing and accumulated thereabout during thedrawing operation will be caused to progressively slide upward. along said block. As asafety featurea guard ring 3' m'ounted'jon said draw bench surrounds the lower fiangeportion 5 of said'blockl Projecting upwardly from said block are aplu- .rality of circularly arranged block'extension pins 9 which serve to retain the accumulated fwir'e (represented by dotted lineil3 inFig; 1) above said blockjas the bundle growsandis forced up- .wardlyduring the drawing operation; 'Aroun'd sively forced upwardly 'with'thebundle'.

From the'structure thus far described it is apparent that should the operator'be absent or inattentive, the combined drawing andbun'dling operation is aptjto' be continued until :thelbundie 13 and said ring in overflow abovethe upper and inconveniences previously referred" toffjIn order to prevent such happenings and the resulting confusion and possible injury to the operator there. is provided a light 'sens'itiv'eijor socalled 3 "electric eye assembly with the light source and light sensitive target elements thereof respectively carried by standards II and I2 on said draw bench, said standards being mounted in spaced-apart relation adjacent said block so that the light beam (dot-dash line I4 in Fig. 2) between said elements is tangent to a circle circumscribing said pins, such circle, of course, being of diameter less than that of ring I or the coiled bundle I3 of wire formed around said pins. As will be presently explained, the light source and target elements are vertically adjustable along said standards and are so coupled with the block driving unit that when the bundle I3 attains a predetermined size as determined by its height along said pins 9, said ring III, or alternatively if no ring I0 is employed, the top of the bundle will interrupt the light beam I4 and thereby efiectuate through 'a suit-' able means interruption in the further operation ofsaid'driving unit 3.

' 'jInFig. 5 the exemplary electric-eye assembly circuit includes a light source element I5 directing its light beam I4 at the light sensitive target element I6 (herein a photo-tube or photoelectric cell), which targetelement is operable when exposed'to the beam I4 to release or emit photo electrons and thus establish flow of photoelectric current in the lines I! and I8 under the influence of electro-motive force across said lines. On the other hand when the beam I4 is interrupted as by said ring III as aforesaid "such emission of photo electrons ceases and therefore the fiow of current through lines I! "and I8 likewise ceases.

Connected inseries with saidtarget element "I6 is a relay I9 having an armature movable in a'direction toclose the circuit through the power lines 2I and 23 to the block driving motor 3m response to the energization of solenoid 25 "bycurrent flowing in the lines I! and I8. Said armature is moved in an opposite direction'to open the motor circuit by means of *a spring 26 whenever said solenoid '25 isde-energized as 'whenthe lightbeam I4 is interrupted-as aforesaid. Said motor circuit preferably-has 'a main switch'2'l therein to enable stopping of said mo- Ttor3 whenever desired. It is to be understood that 'thiscircuit and the components therein "are merely typical and that in addition theretoitmay be'necessary or desirable to employ the usual'thermionic amplifiers to'step up the photo electric current to a value sufficient to actuate said relay I9. Likewise, although theil- "lustrative circuit'in Fig. '5 utilizes a target-element I6 of the photoemissive type which is operi'ative to interrupt flow of current when the 'light striking itscatho'de is cut off,it maybe feasible insome' cases to utilize'othertypes of elements; viz. photo-conductive and photo-volta ic'cellsin"which a change in're'sistance'and voltage respectively 'is effected whenever light strikes the same. It is further'contemplated that the circuit might'be so modified that said motor 3 isrendered inoperative when the light- "said ring to a predetermined'position' to' permitsuchlightbea'm tostrike the target ele- "m n *Sai'dstandard II' is preferably of a" curved "form, as shown, "with' its upper horizontal [leg "portion" disposed above said block and tangent to a circle of diameter greater than said block 2 so as to properly clear the latter and other parts (not shown) on said draw bench I. As best shown in Fig. 4, the upper end of said standard II has a vertically disposed cylindri-form housing 28 secured thereto, said housing being formed with two diametrically opposed and vertically extending slots 29 and 30. Vertically adjustable in said housing is a light-source holder 3| (light source element I5 omitted in Fig. 4) comprising a'rectangular member having a lens 32 secured 'to one side thereof as by a nut 33 with said lens in register with slot 30 in said housing and having a stud projecting from its opposite side "through slot 29.

Said holder is locked in any vertical position along slot 29 as by means of a nut 35 threaded on said stud and operative to draw the cylindrical sides 36 of said holder and a washer 31 on said stud toward one another with said housing clamped therebetween. Because the sides 36 are of diameter substantially equal to the inside diameter of said housing and because said stud has a clearance with :slot .29, said holder may be angularly adjusted so :that the beam of light I4 passing .throughthelens 32 and slot 30 may be accurately aimed atthe target I6 carried in standard I2. The light source I5 will be mounted in the area 38 within said holder 3| in a conventional socket (not shown) and the leads 39 thereof as shown :in Figs.'2 and 5 will extend throughopem'ng 40 in housing 28 into standard II and willemerge; from said standard as through a lateral opening near its base for connection to a .convenient electrical outlet.

Fig.3 is a cross section view of the .upper end of said standard I2 and, as shown, saidstandard I2 is formed with two diametrically opposed-vertically extending slots 4| and '42 therethrough which correspond respectively WithiSlOtS 29v'and 3D in the housing 28 on standard II, such slot :42 facing toward slot '30 and such slot 4 I. havingprojected therethrough the stud portion 34 .on the target holder 43 disposed within saidstandard' I2. Said target holder-43 is verticallyzadjustablezin said standard I2 and lockable in'a preeselected position in linewith the light beam I4.bya nut '35 and a washer 31 on said stud in the same manneras the light sourceholder-3I'is adjusted and locked in housing 28. Said holder43 is formed with a contractible device 45 which is operative to clamp the previously described target I6 (not shown in Fig. 3) therein whereby itsv photoeelectron emissive cathode is exposedtothe light beam I4 from saidlight source I5 whichis' carried. :in

said standard I I. 'The lines I! and- I8 connected to said target pass throughstandard I2 and emerge through a sidewall opening near its'zbase for connection with a battery or other-source'of electro-motive force and a'relayor the liketas previously indicated with reference to Fig. 5.

With the light sourceelement I5 and: target element I 6 properly-adjusted in standards I I-. and

I2 so'that the light'beam I4 between*said: 'elements is 'at-a desired height relative to the' block extension pins 9 and with the main switchi21 closed, said draw block 2 will be driven byamotor 3 so long as the ring I0 around said pins is below the light beam I i. As the bundle of-wire grows upwardon said block and pins, said ring xlll will be correspondingly forced upwardly until i'it finally reaches the adjusted level of the light source and target elements l5 and I6. Atfthis thereby-cutoff the light to the target I6 whereby the growing bundle.

relayrie will be operative IQ O en the block drivingrmotor circuitto thusstop further rotation of said draw block. Such; stopping of the bloel; .occursbeforesaid ring in and the coiled bundle en a ed t eby cv fiews eve t e up e ends of 1 the block extension pins ;9, i The completed bundle of proper size can then .beremovedand inso doing, the mechanism is automatically conditioned for i e-initiation of the operation of said ble k hev igh am 14 a a shin ng on tar et element l6 .ior ciosing' the block driving motor ci c it- With the improved mechanism; disclosed'herein it is unnecessary for the operator ,to manipulate mechanical stop devices, .viz. move such devices to, clear the .compie'ted bundleito permit lifting of the bundle over the biockextensio'n pins and re-position such devices over said block in order to initiateanother drawing and bundling operation. Furthermore, the present mechanism issafe and convenient withregard to precluding injury to the operator and tangling ,or snarling of the wire by overgrowth of the bundle.

Althoughbut one form of draw blockis herein disclosed, other forms may bev equally well suited to the accomplishment of the distinctive features ,of this invention. For example, it is knownto p'revide a flanged drum telescopically fitted within the draw block, said drum being raised by theg'rowing bundle engaged with the flange thereof. Thus it is apparent that anelectric eye assembly may be associated with'such drum for interrupting operationof said block whenever the drum is raised to a predeterminedheight by b Other' modes offapplying the principle of the invention maybe iernployel changebeing made as' .regards the. details described, provided the features stated in" any of the fo lowing claims, or the equivalent of such, be employed.

1 therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

i. In wire bundling mechanism, the combination with a vertically disposed draw block operative when rotated to draw wire thereonto and form such wire into a coiled bundle which moves upwardly along said block as it grows, of driving means for said block, spaced apart standards respectively (carrying light source. and light sensitive target elements with a light beam from the former element shining on the latter element and lying on a line tangent to a circle about said block and above such bundle, said driving means and 'ta rgetelement being so connected together that o-th' former is rendered operative and inoperative in response to such light beam shining on and being cut off from the latter respectively; and means on said block operative upon predetermined upwardv movement of such bundle to cut oif such light beam from said target element, one of said standards having a vertical lower portion and a horizontal upper portion extending generally toward said block and away from the other standard and carrying one of said elements at its free end.

2. In a wire bundling mechanism, the combination with a vertically disposed draw block operative when rotated to draw wire thereonto and form such wire into a coiled bundle which moves upwardly along said block as it grows, of driving means for said block, spaced apart standards respectively carrying light source and light sensitive target elements with a light beam from the former element shining on the latter element and lying on a line tangent to a circle about said black. and bcve such bundle, s id. d vi mea s nd ta et e men -bei .50 co n cted o ether thatthe former is rendered operative and inoperati n in response to such light beam shining onand being cut off from the latter respectively, means on said block operative upon predetermined upward movement of such bundle to cut off such light beam from said target element, holders for said elements within said standards, saidstandards each being formed with diametrically opposed vertically extending slots one oi' which provides a window for such light beam and the other of which provides for vertical adjust ment of s dh l ers in sa Standards, d m a s for clamping said holders in vertically adjusted pos t on n s d s a a eemn s e t eh ea h. h ste pmieq n th ue s c other h and a nut threaded on said stud.

3. I n wire bundling mechanism, the combina tion with a vertically disposed draw block opera: tive when rotated to draw wire thereonto and form such wire into a coiled bundle which moves upwardly along said block as itgrows. of driving means for said block, spaced apart standards respectively carrying light source and light sensitive target elements with a light beam fromthe iormer element shining on the latter element and lying on a line tangent to a circle about said block and above such bundle, said driving means and target element being so connectedtogether that-the former is rendered operative andinoperative in response to such light beam shining on and being cut off from the latter respectively, means on said block operative 'upon .prede'termined upward movement of such bundleto cut oif such light beamirom said target element, holders for said elements within said standards,

said standards each being formed with diametrically opposed vertically extending slots .onejof which provides a Window for such light beam. and the other of which provides for verticaliadjustment of said holders in said standar'dsfandv means for clamping said holders in 1 vertically 'adjus' te'd position on saidstandardscomprising a stud on each holder projecting lthrough such enter "slot and a nut threaded on said stud, at ieastb eor said studs having clearance with such other slot wherebythe associated holder may be anguan adjusted in a horizontal'plane.

4t. In wire. undlingmechanism, the ombine tion with'a vertically disposed draw block operative when rotated to drawfwire thereonto and form such wire into a coiled'bu ndle which moves upwardly along said block as-it grows, of driving means forsaid block, spaced apart standards respectively carrying light source andlight sen- "sitive target elements with a light beam from the former element shining on the latter element and lying on a line tangent to a circle about said block and above such bundle, said driving means and target element being so connected together that the former is rendered operative and inoperative in response to such light beam shining on and being cut off from the latter respectively, means on said block operative upon predetermined upward movement of such bundle to cut off such light beam from said target element, holders for said elements within said standards, said standards each being formed with diametrically opposed vertically extending slots one of which provides a window for such light beam and the other of which provides for vertical adjustment of said holders in said standards, and means for clamping said holders in vertically adjusted position on said standards comprising a stud on holder projecting through such other slot a hut threaded on saidstud, at least one 01' fs d' 'studs having clear'ance'with'such other slot w er' eby the associated holder may be angul'a'rly adjustedin' a horizontal- -plane, said last-named holdera'nd "the standard in which it is disposed sang formed with "'compl'efi1entary inter-engaged cylindrical surfaces. "-jS jIn wire bundling mechanism, the combination with a vertically disposed draw block operative" when rotated to draw wire thereon'to and formsuch vvir'e into aco'i'led bundle which moves upwardly along saidbl'o'ck'a's it grows, of driving means for-said block, andspaced apart standards respectively-carrying light-source and light sensitive targetgelenients with a light be'amfrom the formerelernent shining on the latter element and lying on a lineftangent to a'ci'rcle about said blockjajnd above such bundle-so as to be out ofl .rrams ia target "element upon predetermined upward'movement of such bundle, said driving means-and target element being so connected together that'the' former is rendered operative and inoperative in response to such light beam .shi'ning-jfon and being cut off from the latter :ir'e'spectivly, {one of said standards having a vertical lowerportion and a horizontalupper portion {extending generally toward said block and away from theother standard'an'd carrying one of said elements 'at its free end.

if 6, In wire bundling mechanism, the-combination with a vertically disposed draw block operative when rotated to draw wire thereonto ,andfo'rm such Wire-into a coiled bundle'which tmoves upwardly along said block as it grows, of driving means for said block," spaced apart light source and lights'ensiti've target elements with a light beam fromthe former element shining on ithe'l'atter element and'lying ona line tangent to iaicirclejabout said block and above such bundle, said di'iv ingmeans and target element being so 'connec'ted together that the'fo'rmer is rendered operative and inoperative in response to such "light beam shining on and being cut off from the latter respectively, and means on said block 45 engaging the top of the bundle and forced'upfwardly during growth thereof and operative u -tn predetermined upward movement of such bundle to cut ofi suchli'ght beam from said target"elemenu-saidelements being located radially :o u't'wardof such bundle andsaid means'to enable unobstructed lifting of such bundle and said -"means frdm 'said block. Y g

p '7. 'Inwire bundlingfmechanism, the combinatio'n'wlth a vertically disposed'draw'blo'ck opera- 55 :tlve when rotated to draw Wire thereonto and Torin such was into a'coiled bundle whlchmoves upwaru y aieng sam block" as "it lg'rov'vsof driving ine'ans for*s"aid block, and spaced apart light source and-light sensitive target elements with "a light beam from the former element shining on"the-"latter element and lying on a-line tangent to a circle 'abou't said block and above such bundle so as to be cut "off from said target element upon predetermined upward movement of such -'bundle, -'said driving means and target 'e1e-'- nient being so connected together that the former is rendered operative and inoperative an response to 'such light beam shining on and bein cut off from'the latter respectively, said elemerits being located radially outward or such bundle "'to je'nable "unobstructed lifting or the 'lat'terfrom said block.

"In wire bundling mechanism, thec'ombi- 'nationwith'a vertically disposed-draw block 012* erauvewhen rotated" to draw wirethereontoand form such wire'i'nto a coiled bundle which moves upwardly along said block 'as it grows, of an electric drive motor for said block, a control circu itifo'rsaid 'drive motor including a switch device'for energizing and deenergizing said drive motor, s'aid switch device comprising alight sensitive target element respectively opening and closingsaid control circuit upon a light beam shining thereon and being cut off therefrom, and alight source element spaced from said target element andprojecting a light beam which shines on said target element and lies one. line tangent to a circle about said block and abovein the path or upward growth of the bundle whereby upon predeterminedgrowth of the bundle upwardly along aid block such light beam iscut "as "fromfsaid target elmentto renderfsaid con- "trol circuit effective to deenergize said drive -inotor, 'saicl'elernent's being located radially outward of such 'buiidle to enable unobstructed liftin 'of'the latter fromsaid block.

N'O'RMAN H. REFERENCES CITED "The following references are of record in the 'file of this patent:

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